As Tears Go By

(Wong Kar Wai, 1988, Hong Kong, 98 minutes)

After cutting his teeth as a screenwriter for television and movies, Wong Kar Wai made his debut as director with 1988’s As Tears Go By, a hit in its native Hong Kong (its box office there wouldn’t be surpassed by anything else Wong made until 2013’s The Grandmaster), and which went on to play the International Critics’ Week sidebar at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. With HK superstars Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs), Jacky Cheung (Bullet in the Head), and Wong favorite Maggie Cheung, then known mostly for arm-candy roles in Jackie Chan movies, in her first of five features with him. As Tears Go By stood as Wong’s only traditionally-scripted film for many years—with a plot noticeably influenced by Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets—but to a sharp eye points in the direction of his future style. (Well, maybe not that Top Gun needle drop…)

In Cantonese with English subtitles.

You may also like the following events from Webster University Film Series:

• This Thursday, 19th February, 07:00 pm, Conversation Piece in Webster Groves
• This Friday, 20th February, 07:00 pm, The Swallows of Kabul in Webster Groves
• Next month, 8th March, 07:00 pm, Fiume o morte! in Webster Groves

Also check out other Entertainment events in Webster Groves, Festivals in Webster Groves.